Lutsenko Signs Official Charges Against Onyshchenko

Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko signed an official notification of suspicion against the Volya Narodu [Eng: People’s Will] MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, the press office of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) reported.

"This enables us to follow the case against the main and other suspects in the gas scheme to its logical end – to the court verdict," Lead Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Nazar Kholodnytskyi stated. The next step is to put Onyshchenko on a wanted list, including internationally. If he keeps hiding, we will request the court to consider his case in absentia, Kholodnytskyi stressed.

The SAP is now focusing on the seizure of all frozen property in this case for the state budget, he added.

On June 22, the SAP and National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) revealed the scheme of embezzlement on the natural gas production and sale through Ukrgazvydobuvannia company which had resulted in near ₴3 billion ($120 million) losses of the state.

On July 5, the Verkhovna Rada agreed to launch criminal proceedings against Oleksandr Onyshchenko. He is believed to be the mastermind of the gas scheme. But he fled Ukraine before this day.

As of July 26, 12 suspects have been arrested, ten of them are placed in custody for 60 days. The total amount of bail for these suspects exceeds ₴1 billion.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda